January 30, 2018
Covenant Kids Run officially underway after dash at Zoo Knoxville on Jan. 27
Family members, friends, fitness enthusiasts and educators cheered as children from across East Tennessee kicked off the Covenant Kids Run with a 1-mile event at Zoo Knoxville.
The event, part of the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon, encourages children to complete a 26.2-mile staggered marathon over two months. The one-mile fun run at Zoo Knoxville officially kicks off the exercise program and is intended to encourage children to stay active.
The youngest wave of kids, some accompanied by parents, take off at the start line of the Covenant Kids Run kickoff race at Zoo Knoxville on Jan. 27. Kids participating in the program will try to complete a personal marathon between now and the Covenant Kids Run on March 24, part of the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon, when they’ll run their final mile together from the Sunsphere in at World’s Fair Park to the 50-yard line at Neyland Stadium.
“The Covenant Kids Run kickoff is a day of excitement from start to finish, said Jason Altman, executive director of the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon. “The kids enjoyed new animal exhibits and had a great time as they dashed through the zoo. It was great to see families encouraging the kids and cheering them on as they crossed the finish line, and we can’t wait to see even more participants at the Covenant Kids Run on March 24.
“Even if you missed the kickoff at the zoo, you can still register and start your progress toward a personal marathon.”
The participants will run the last mile together March 24, starting on the Clinch Avenue Viaduct in World’s Fair Park and ending on the 50-yard line inside Neyland Stadium.
Registration is open at knoxvillemarathon.com. Children in the eighth grade and younger can participate in the Covenant Kids Run. Each child who registers also can download the free logbook to track 25 miles of walking, running or the exercise equivalent, such as 30 minutes of active playtime, leading up to the March 24 final 1-mile run during the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon race weekend.
Shannondale Elementary School students celebrate at the end of the Covenant Kids Run kickoff race at Zoo Knoxville on Jan. 27. Kids participating in the program will try to complete a personal marathon between now and the Covenant Kids Run on March 24, part of the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon, when they’ll run their final mile together from the Sunsphere to the 50-yard line at Neyland Stadium. Pictured from left: Anna Lee Castleberry, Kaylee Reed, Ava Curtis, Maddie Hinton and Caroline Reed.
Each child that participates in the Covenant Kids Run also earns one point for his or her school in the Fittest School Challenge, a competition among area elementary schools. Schools register for the Covenant Kids Run and provide a total student enrollment count. The top 10 schools with the highest percentage of student participation in the race win prize money and the title of Fittest School.
For more information and to register for the Covenant Kids Run and all races, visit www.knoxvillemarathon.com.
For additional information:
Jason Altman
Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon
Executive Director
865-805-2476
About the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon
The Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon is a premier event organized by the Knoxville Track Club, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the encouragement of physical well-being through running and walking.
